Tories edging out Wynne’s Liberals: poll

The majority of Ontarians believe it’s time for new leadership, according to a new poll by Ipsos Reid.

Sixty-nine per cent of those polled said they believe ‘it is time for another provincial party to take over and run the province.’

The findings come on the heals of a byelection which saw the Liberals lose two territories – the Conservatives held on to Thornhill while the NDP came out on top in Niagara Falls.

“Tonight we saw proof that the people of Ontario want to see change,” said Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak following the byelection. “And they sent the Liberals a very clear message that they want leadership that’s going to take decisive action…and get Ontario moving again.”

The poll, which was conducted a week before the byelection, showed Hudak’s Progressive Conservatives are taking a slight lead across the province.

If a general election took place tomorrow 34 per cent of Ontarians said they would vote Conservative – which is up three points since late 2013.

However, only 28 per cent backed the idea of Hudak as premier.

The poll also showed support for Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals dropped three points, putting them in an exact tie with the unchanged NDP at 31 per cent. Just one in three Ontarians said they thought the Liberals, under Wynne, have done a good job and deserve re-election.

The poll also found nearly 16 per cent of voters remain undecided which would be enough to hand any of the three main parties the leadership.

When it comes to territory the Liberals remain a stronghold in Toronto proper with 43 per cent over the Torie’s 29 per cent while the opposite holds true in the 905.

Comments

It seems that US based companies employing Canadians want us to adopt the US pay scales. The question for the Canadian and Ontario Government is when are you going to start to lower prices to equal US commodities so that our pay scale would be proportionate to the US economy? If costs are not brought under control, eventually we’ll lose all US Headquartered manufacturing to the US, Mexico or Asia. Just look at Heinz, Electromotive, even Chrysler here in Windsor have started to beat the threat war drums. Anyone employed by a US company should be concerned for their job.

Sad when the Tories are just slightly ahead of a totally dysfunctional government who have been driving Ontario into the ground. If Hudak is to have any chance, he needs to dump the “Right to Work”. It will not work in Ontario dude.

It’s sad that I am a dedicated Tory but I don’t have a good feeling that Tim can lead the party. He’s just too wishy washy on many issues. I think someone like Doug Holiday in the top seat would result in a landslide. Currently, I’d be looking over my shoulder for a big NDP surprise same as we got with Bob Rae where he scooped 77% of the vote. The province does not need an NDP government but they have good leadership and they are putting on a good show. Wake up PC’s and find the next Mike Harris type individual to ensure a landslide.

The absolute last thing Ontario needs is another liberal/ndp alliance term. The liberals have implemented nothing the ndp wanted and yet it seems like they’re going to keep propping up either the most inept and stupid or most criminal government in Ontario’s history.

@BG – Mike Harris always got a bad rap. Sure his time in power saw some negative changes and loss of services, but the real reason that happened was because Paul Martin, as Finance Minister of Canada, halfed the Heath and Education transfer payments to Ontario in order to balance the Federal Budget (but really in order to get Chretien re-elected), and so Harris spent his time in office fighting for more money from the Feds, while refusing to raise taxes to make up for it.

He fought for us, and unfortunately he lost. As soon as the PC’s were voted out and Dalton in, we saw record-setting tax increases, including the biggest single increase (Health Tax) since Income Tax was instituted.